Glass-forming fluid flow control means

ABSTRACT

A valve mechanically and hydraulically actuated for selectively controlling flow of pressurized fluid therethrough, and a control system employing the valve in conjunction with lightweight apparatus for press forming molten glass. In the control system the valve is hydraulically actuated to supply pressurized fluid to the glass pressing apparatus for rapid actuation of the pressing plunger of the apparatus towards and away from the glass pressing and nonpressing positions of the plunger, and adjustable cam means are employed to mechanically actuate the valve and selectively override the hydraulic actuations of the valve towards the ends of the strokes of the plunger to press form the glass at a preselected rate and gradually bring the plunger to a stop at such ends and reduce pressing pressure during plunger dwell. Ring mold clamping means clamp the usual ring mold to the main mold during a pressing operation independently of the pressing pressure actuating the plunger or of the weight of the plunger and its associated actuating apparatus.

United States Patent GLASS-FORMING FLUID FLOW CONTROL MEANS 8 Claims, 6Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 65/305,

65/318, 65/322, 65/361, 65/362, 65/161 Int. Cl C03b 5/30 Field of Search65/322,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,471,281 /1969 Bittneretal.

ABSTRACT: A valve mechanically and hydraulically actuated forselectively controlling flow of pressurized fluid therethrough, and acontrol system employing the valve in conjunction with lightweightapparatus for press forming molten glass. 1n the control system thevalve is hydraulically actuated to supply pressurized fluid to the glasspressing apparatus for rapid actuation of the pressing plunger of theapparatus towards and away from the glass pressing and nonpressingpositions of the plunger, and adjustable cam means are employed tomechanically actuate the valve and selectively override the hydraulicactuations of the valve towards the ends of the strokes of the plungerto press form the glass at a preselected rate and gradually bring theplunger to a stop at such ends and reduce pressing pressure duringplunger dwell. Ring mold clamping means clamp the usual ring mold to the3,069,860 12/1962 Cochag ffet a1 65/2 X main during a pressing Operationindependently of the 3,268,319 8/1966 Kaweckaetal.... 65/361X PressingPressure actuating he plungerorofthe weight ofthc 3,445,218 5/1969Trudeau 65/36lX Plungeanditsasmiated actuatingapparams' T-f" 7 I 148 Z38 Ace 137 \54 l7 '3' T0 BOO-I000 PSI 0 1 PRESSURIZED 34 c '47 |43 I33FLUIQ sounci 37 4 8650 I06 no? H06 '2 res "if; 59m w 57 -i x; lg 590 97I46 Y us 3 igig -|o2 llza I L Ri -jig: l pl q T0 250-1000 l 1 I4 I l2 YPSI PRESSURIZED lei l'l T FLUID SOURCE P 16 J I 12b n i I49 123 4 I ;TO500 PSI ISOTT T PRESSURIZED FLUID souncz PATENTED JAN] 1 1912 sum 1 055lllnlll [Illlll ll INVENTORS. Frederick A. Duh/man Raymond J. Mras AGENTPATENIED mu 1 1972 SHEET 2 OF 5 INVENTORS. Frederick A. Dahlman RaymondJ; Mm:

AGENT PATENTED JAN] 1 m2 34,0 0

SHiEI 3 UF 5 INVENTORS. Frederick A. Duh/man Raymond J. Mras AGENTBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The usual or conventional glass pressingapparatus generally comprises a relatively heavyweight crossheadattached to an air or hydraulic cylinder which moves such crosshead anda plunger and ring mold attached thereto towards an away from a mainforming mold at a relatively high speed. Molten glass in the mainforming mold is pressed to the desired shape by the action of thecylinder force plus the kinetic energy in the pressing plunger and itsassociated apparatus. Both such forces are relatively high and have anadverse effect on pressing small ware, particularly of the split moldtype, and the quantity of acceptable ware produced is, therefore,substantially lowered.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide arelatively lightweight glass-pressing apparatus actuated by a new andnovel type of control system including a new and novel type of maincontrol valve whereby the quantity of acceptable ware or ware selectioncan be substantially increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accomplishing the above object of theinvention a control system has been developed for actuating aglass-pressing apparatus having a substantially reduced weight, thepressing plunger of such apparatus being actuated at a higher speed inapproach to the associated glass-forming mold and at a suitably lowerspeed during the actual pressing part of a glass pressing or formingcycle. The control system also provides for separation of ring moldclamping force from the pressing force and a reduction of pressingpressure during 'plunger dwell. The heart of the new control system is anew and novel hydraulically and mechanically actuated valve forselectively controlling flow of pressurized fluid to the actuatingcylinder of the pressing plunger. Hydraulic actuation of the valve ismechanically overridden towards the ends of the pressing plunger strokeby adjustable cam means associated with and moved along with thepressing plunger during its strokes, such cam means physicallycontacting the mechanical actuating means of the valve for themechanical overriding actuation thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 generally comprises a side elevational view of the lightweightglass-pressing apparatus employed in the control system of the inventionwith parts of said apparatus being broken away to illustrate internalstructure of such apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 including thecontrol valve and associated apparatus of the invention, such view beingon an enlarged scale and being taken generally along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 comprises a cross-sectional view of the novel control valve andassociated apparatus employed in the control system of the invention,such view being taken generally along line 3-3 ofFlG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the elongate cylindrical housing ofthe control valve of the invention, such view being taken generallyalong line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 comprises an elevational view of the rear of the housing of thecontrol valve of the invention, and upper and lower manifolds associatedwith such housing, such view being on a still longer scale andillustrating, by broken lines, threaded holes for receipt of screws, andpassages and channels in said housing and in said manifolds forconveyance of pressurized fluid; and

FIG. 6 comprises a schematic diagram of the control system of theinvention, such view also including, in somewhat of a diagrammatic form,a front view of the glass-pressing apparatus employed in the controlsystem of the invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of thefigures of the drawings.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings indetail and first to FIGS. 1 6 of the drawings, there is shown aglass-pressing apparatus generally designated 11 and including a firstpressurized fluid cylinder or motor 12 having a central flanged portion12a which rests on and is secured to the top surface of a suitablesupport member 14 with the lower portion 12b of cylinder or motor 12extending downwardly through a suitable opening 14a which also extendsdownwardly through support member 14. An annular piston 13 is disposedin an enlarged central portion of bore 15 of cylinder 12 and fits snuglybut slidably therein in the usual manner. Piston 13 is affixed andsealed to the outer periphery of a hollow piston rod 16 whose upper andlower portions and 16b, respectively, extend snugly but slidably throughupper and lower ends 15a and 15b, respectively, of bore 15 of cylinder12.

Cylinder 12 further includes a top flange portion 12c on whose topsurface is mounted a substantially enclosed support member 17 for asecond pressurized fluid cylinder or motor 18 embodying the usual piston19 and an associated piston rod 20 attached thereto. Piston rod 20extends downwardly through the lower end of cylinder 18, through thehollow of the upper portion 16a of piston rod 16, through the annularopening in annular piston 13 of cylinder 12 and, thence, on downwardlythrough the hollow of piston rod 16 to the lower end of lower portion16b of such piston rod where a plurality of four slots such as 16cextend through the wall of hollow piston rod 16. Four outwardlyextending arms such as 21 are secured to the lower end of piston rod 20,one of each of such arms extending through one of each of said slotssuch as 16c provided in the lower end of lower portion 16b of piston rod16.

A glass-pressing or forming plunger 25 including an upper flange portion25a and a glass contacting or forming portion 25b is secured to thelower end of piston rod 16 in any of the usual manners well known in theart. Portion 25b of plunger 25 extends downwardly through a ring mold 26and is aligned with a glass-forming cavity 27a embodied in a female mold27 mounted on the top surface of a table or other suitable support 28 asis also well known in the art. Ring mold 26 is supported by a pluralityof headed screws or studs such as 29 which extend downwardly throughsuitable holes provided in flange portion 25a of plunger 25 and screwedor otherwise secured in ring mold 26, said holes being of a slightlylarger diameter than the diameter of the screws or studs such as 29. Theouter ends of the aforesaid outwardly extending arms such as 21 whichare secured to the lower end of piston rod 20 are each provided with adownwardly extending member such as 30 the lower end of each of which isintended to at times contact the upper surface of ring mold 26 duringparts of press forming cycles as hereinafter discussed in more detail inan operational example of the invention.

The previously mentioned novel valve for controlling flow of pressurizedfluid is generally designated by the reference character 50 and itsstructure will be discussed in detail hereinafter in conjunction withFIGS. 2, through 5 of the drawings. It is, however, now pointed out thatvalve 50 is attached to the outer periphery of cylinder 12 in theattitude illustrated in FIG. 1 so that rollers 51 and 52 of the valveare disposed so as to be at times contacted by cam members 33 and 34(FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6) for mechanical actuation of the valve ashereinafter discussed in more detail.

The above-mentioned cam members 33 and 34 are secured to support members35 and 36, respectively (FIG. 3) which are adjustably slidably disposedin vertically extending channels or grooves 37a and 37b, respectively,provided in a vertical rail or track member 37. Member 37 is secured atits upper end to the lower end of a support bracket 38 whose upper endis, in turn, secured to a'carriage member 39 which embodies a pair ofguide rollers such as 40 (FIG. 1) which, during press forming cycles,roll along the sides of a vertical guide member 41 which is fastenedbetween the aforementioned support member 17 and flange portion 120 ofcylinder 12. Carriage member 39 is secured to a horizontally extendingclamp member 42 which extends through a suitable opening provided insupport member 17 and is securely clamped about the outer periphery ofhollow piston rod 16 adjacent the upper end 16a of such piston rod.

The aforementioned support members 35 and 36 have threaded holes 35a and36a, respectively, (FIG. 3) extending vertically through each respectivemember and through which threaded upper ends of a pair of adjusting rods45 and 46, respectively, extend in a cooperative relationship therewith.Rods 45 and 46 are rotatably supported in suitable bearings housed onthe lower end of rail or track member 37 and the lower ends of the rodsextend through suitable holes such as 14b and 140 extending downwardlythrough support member 14. Crank handles 47 and 48 are secured to thebottom ends of rods 45 and 46, respectively, for imparting rotation tothe rods and, thereby, vertical movement to cam support members 35 and36. By such arrangement the vertical position of earns 33 and 34 on railor track member 37 can be manually adjusted as desired, such adjustmentbeing performed by cranking rods 45 and 46 by means of the crank handles47 and 48, respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through in detail, control valve 50 comprisesan elongate generally cylindrical housing 55 which embodies a generallycylindrical passage 56 extending longitudinally through the housing andhaving enlarged cylindrical end portions 57 and 58 of a greatercross-sectional area than that of the generally central portion ofpassage 56 between end portions 57 and 58 thereof. A generallycylindrical rodlike gating member 59 is disposed in passage 56 ofhousing 55, such member having a greater length than passage 56 andincluding a center portion generally corresponding in cross-sectionalarea and configuration to said generally central portion of passage 56so as to fit snugly but longitudinally slidable therein.

Gating member 59 also includes end portions 59a and 59b of a lessercross-sectional area than the center portion of the gating member, suchend portions extending through said end portions 57 and 58,respectively, of passage 56. First and second annular channels 60 and 61are embodied in the peripheral wall of said center portion of gatingmember 59 with the inner ends of such channels spaced from each other aselected distance along the length of the center portion of such gatingmember, parts of said peripheral wall uniformingly tapering to definethe annular inner limits of each of said channels, such tapers being indirections from the outermost end of each respective channel towards thecenter of such channel.

Housing 55 also embodies in its wall defining the periphery of saidcenter portion of passage 56 a first pair of annular channels 62 and 63whose annular outermost limits are normally situate adjacent said innerends of channels 60 and 61, respectively, in gating member 59, and asecond pair of annu- Iar channels 64 and 65 whose annular innermostlimits are normally situate adjacent the outer ends of channels 60 and61, respectively, in gating member 59. Housing 55 further embodies inits said wall a third pair of annular channels 66 and 67 whose annularcenters normally annularly surround center areas of channels 60 and 61,respectively, in gating member 59.

A pair of pressurized fluid inlet passages 68 and 69 (FIG. 5) extendthrough housing 55 and connect with annular channels 62 and 63 embodiedin such housing, Another pair of pressurized fluid inlet passages 70 and71 (FIGS. 3 and 5) extend through housing 55 and connect with endportions 57 and 58, respectively of passage 56. A first pair ofpressurized fluid outlet passages 72 and 73 (FIG. 5) extend throughhousing 55 and connect with annular channels 64 and 65, respectively,embodied in such housing. A second pair of pressurized fluid outletpassages 74 and 75 (FIGS. 3 and 5) extend through housing 55 and connectwith annular channels 66 and 67, respectively, embodied in the housing.

A first sleeve 80 is disposed in end portion 57 of passage 56 in housing55, such sleeve having a flanged end which is located innermost in suchend portion of passage 56 and such sleeve being of a length less thansuch end portion 57 of passage 56. Sleeve surrounds end portion 59a ofgating member 59 in a relatively snug but slidable relationshiptherewith and a compressible coil spring 81 surrounds sleeve 80 with oneof the ends of such spring bearing against the flange of the sleeve. Acap member 82 is secured to the right hand end of housing 55 (viewingFIG. 3) and embodies an orifice 81a extending therethrough in line withpassage 56 in housing 55 and through which orifice the end portion 59aof gating member 59 snugly but slidably extends with the free end ofsuch end portion protruding externally beyond the exterior annularsurface of cap member 82. The inner end of cap member 82 bears againstthe second end of coil spring 81 and normally compresses such spring alimited amount. Thus, sleeve 80 is normally maintained in its innermostposition within end portion 57 of passage 56 in housing 55. As shown inFIG, 4, sleeve 80 embodies in the wall of its inner end a plurality offluid flow radial channels such as 80a whose purpose will be hereinafterapparent from an operational example of the invention.

End portion 58 of passage 56 in housing 55 is provided with an assemblyof apparatus similar to that just described for end portion 57 ofpassage 56; Such apparatus assembly includes a sleeve 85, a compressiblecoil spring 86, and a cap member 87 which are similar to and correspond,respectively, to sleeve 80, coil spring 81 and cap member 82. A detaileddescription of the apparatus assembly in end portion 58 of passage 56is, therefore, not considered necessary. However, it should be pointedout that the sleeve and coil spring assemblies in end portions 57 and 58of passage 56 in housing 55 normally maintain gating member 59 in itsnormal or center position in passage 56 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The essential parts of valve 50 having been described above, certaincomponents and parts associated with thevalve will now be described withfurther reference to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings.

Housing 55 of valve 50 is shown as having an extending portion 55a(FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) in which is provided a channel 55b extending alongthe length of housing 55. A bifurcated slide member 90 includes anelongate center portion 90a and two end prongs or extension portions 90band 90c, said center portion 90a being disposed in said channel 55b ofhousing 55 in a relatively snug but slidable relationship therein. Slidemember 90 further includes first and second projections 90d and 902which rotatably support, on the otherwise free ends thereof, thepreviously discussed rollers 51 and 52, respectively. The end of endportion 59a of gating member 59 is threaded and is screwed intocooperative threads provided in prong or extension portion 90b of slidemember 90. The end of end portion 59b of gating member 59 extendsthrough prong or extension portion 90:: of slide member 90 in arelatively snug but slidable relationship therein. The extreme end ofend portion 59a of gating member 59 is slotted for receipt of a screwdriver for rotating such gating member and, thereby, adjusting to alimited extent the longitudinal position of slide member 90 relative tothat of gating member 59. First and second screws 91 and 92 extendthrough cooperatively threaded holes provided in the prong or extensionportions 90b and 90c, respectively, of slide member 90 and the movementsof slide member 90 in channel 55b and, thereby, of gating member 59 inpassage 56 can be adjustably limited by manual adjustment of screws 91and 92 as will be readily apparent.

There is secured to the bottom surface of extending portion 55a ofhousing 55 a support 95 on which are rotatably mounted a pair of guiderollers 96 and 97, the outer peripheries of which contact rearwardvertical side faces or edges of vertical rail or track member 37 (FIG.3) for guidance of such member during press-forming cycles hereinafterdiscussed.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, and as best illustrated in FIG, 5, firstand second manifolds 100 and 101 are secured to the upper and lowersurfaces of housing 55 of valve 50, such manifolds embodying passagesfor supply and receipt of pressurized fluid to and from the previouslydiscussed passages in housing 55. As best illustrated in FIG. 5,manifold 100 embodies passages 100a and 1011b which connect withpreviously discussed passages 68 and 69, respectively, in housing 55and, thereby, to annular channels 62 and 63, respectively, in suchhousing. The end of said passage 100a leading to the exterior ofmanifold 100 is connected to a fluid conduit 102 (FIG. 6) which is, inturn, connected to a pressurized fluid source having, for example, apressure of 250-1 ,000 p.s.i. The end ofsaid passage 10% leading to theexterior of manifold 100 is connected to a fluid conduit 103 (FIG. 6)which is in turn connected to a pressurized fluid source having, forexample, a pressure of 500 p.s.i.

As also best illustrated in FIG. 5, manifold 101 embodies a passage 101awhich connects with previously discussed passages 72 and 73 in housing55 and, thereby, to annular channels 64 and 65 in such housing. The endof passage 101a leading to the exterior of manifold 10] is connected toa fluid conduit 104 (FIG. 6) which leads to a fluid tank or reservoirdesignated T and which is shown in several instances throughout FIG. 6of the drawings.

Passages 74 and 75 embodied in housing 55 of valve 50 connect withpassages embodied in the wall of cylinder 12, as is well known in theart, and which lead to the upper and lower ends, respectively, ofenlarged central portion c of bore 15 of cylinder 12. Said passagesembodied in the wall of cylinder 12 are not shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawings for purposes of simplification thereof, but such passages maybe assumed to be illustrated and designated in FIG. 6 by referencecharacters 106 and 107 which indicate conduits or passages which leadfrom valve 50 to upper and lower ends, respectively, of cylinder 12.Conduit or passage 106 also connects to a first end ofa gating means orpressure release valve 115 that is normally maintained in a firstposition by a compression spring 116 and is actuated to a secondposition when a solenoid control winding 117 of the valve is energized,such valve again returning to its normal position when winding 117 isagain deenergized following a period of energization thereof ashereinafter described.

Passages 70 and 71 embodied in housing 55 connect with passages 110 and111, respectively, embodied in the wall of cylinder 12 (FIG. 3) and,thereby, connect to fluid conduits 112 and 113, respectively, shown inFIG. 6. Reference characters 51, 52, 57, 58, 59a, 59b, 81 and 86 in FIG.6 designate schematically illustrated parts of valve 50 which is alsoschematically illustrated in FIG. 6, such parts correspondingrespectively to the similar designated parts of valve 50 shown in detailin FIG. 3.

Referring further to FIG. 6, fluid conduits 119 and 120 connect a firstend of a two-position four-way gating means or valve 121 to previouslymentioned tank or fluid reservoir T and to a first end of previouslymentioned valve 115, respectively. The first end of valve 121 is alsoconnected to previously mentioned fluid conduit 113 and to a fluidconduit 122 which in turn connects to the output port of a pressurereducing valve 123 whose input port connects over a fluid conduit 124 tosaid source of pressurized fluid at a pressure of 500 p.s.i., forexample. Valve 123 will be further discussed hereinafter. Gating meansor valve 121 is shown as an electrical solenoid valve which is normallymaintained in a first position by a compression spring 125 connectedthereto and which is actuated to its second position when a controlwinding 126 of the valve is energized, such valve being returned to itsnormal position by spring 125 when control winding 126 is againdeenergized following a period of energization thereof. Valve 121 willalso be further discussed hereinafter.

Returning to previously mentioned valve 115, said first end of suchvalve is also connected to previously mentioned fluid conduit 112 andthrough another fluid conduit 127 to fluid reservoir or tank T.

The first end of a second two-position four-way gating means or valve130 is connected over a fluid conduit 131 to the output ports of firstand second two-way manually actuated valves 132 and 133, respectively.The input port of valve 132 is connected to a source of pressurizedfluid at a pressure of 300-1 ,000 p.s.i., for example. The input port ofvalve 133 is connected to the previously mentioned 250-l ,000 psi.pressurized fluid source. Said first end of valve is also connected overa fluid conduit 134 to fluid reservoir or tank T and over a fluidconduit 135 to the upper end of previously discussed pressurized fluidmotor or cylinder 18. Gating means or valve 130 is also shown as anelectrical solenoid valve which is normally maintained in a firstposition by a compression spring 136 connected thereto and which isactuated to its second position when a control winding 137 of the valveis energized, such valve being returned to its normal position by spring136 when control winding is again deenergized following a period ofenergization thereof.

A source of electrical current of suitable voltage and capacity isprovided for energization of the solenoid windings 117, 126 and 137 ofvalves 115, 121 and 130, respectively. The first and second terminals ofsaid source are designated as X and Y, respectively, however said sourceis not shown in the drawings for purposes of simplification thereof.

Solenoid winding 126 of valve 121 has an energizing circuit whichextends from said terminal X of said current source over a contact TDlof a timing drum, hereinafter discussed, and thence to terminal Y of thecurrent source. Similarly, solenoid windings 137 and 117 of valves 130and 115, respectively, have energizing circuits which extend fromterminal X of said current source over contacts TD2 and TD3,respectively, of said timing drum and thence to terminal Y of thecurrent source. Timing drum contacts TDl, TD2 and TD3 are contacts of atiming drum or programmer such as usually employed in glass formingoperations, as is well known in the art. However, such timing drum orprogrammer, per se, is not shown in the drawings for purposes ofsimplification thereof. Said contacts are shown in FIG. 6 as normallyopen and contacts TDI and TD2 close at substantially the same timeduring press forming cycles. However, for reasons hereinafter pointedout, contact TDl after a closure thereof opens at a point in timeslightly prior to contact TD2, the difference in such opening periodsbeing, for example, on the order of 0.06 seconds. That is to say,contact TD2 opens 0.06 seconds following the opening of contact TDl. Thepoints in time of opening and closing of contact TD3 relative tocontacts TD] and TD2 will be pointed out hereinafter in an operationalexample of the invention.

The previously mentioned fluid conduit 135 connected from valve 130 tothe upper end of cylinder 18 is also connected to the input of anoverload safety valve 140 having an output connected over a fluidconduit 141 to fluid reservoir or tank T. The purpose of such valve willalso be pointed out hereinafter. The lower end of cylinder 18 isconnected over a fluid conduit 142 directly to fluid reservoir or tank Tto permit air to flow into the lower end of cylinder 18 during an upwardactuation of piston 19 of the cylinder, and to permit air and/or leakagefluid to flow out of the lower end of the cylinder during a downwardactuation of piston 19 of the cylinder.

A variable fluid flow restriction 143 is provided in fluid conduit 131between valve 130 and manual flow control valves 132 and 133, suchrestriction being manually adjustable to adjust the rate of fluid flowfrom valves 132 and 133 and to fluid conduit 135 and thence to the upperend of cylinder 18 for purposes hereinafter discussed.

Another variable fluid flow restriction 144 is provided in fluid conduit106 between valve 115 and the upper end of enlarged portion 15c or bore15 in cylinder 12, such restriction being manually adjustable to adjustthe rate of back flow of pressurized fluid from said upper end ofenlarged portion 15:: of bore 15 in cylinder 12 and through fluidpassage or conduit 106, valve 115 and fluid conduit 127 to tank T and,thereby, prevent the subjection of conduits 106 and 127, and valve 115to undue stresses or strains, or so-called fluid hammer, as is wellknown in the art. Restriction 144 is manually adjustable or variable sothat an optimum rate of pressurized fluid backflow can be selected inaccordance with the program of press forming cycles of the press formingapparatus 1 1.

There is connected with conduit 131 between variable restriction 143 andvalve 130 the output port of a check valve 14'rwhose input port isconnected with a pressurized fluid accumulator 148 and a pressurizedfluid conduit 146 which connects to the output port of apressure-reducing valve 145. The input port of valve 145 is connectedover conduit 124 to the previously mentioned 500 p.s.i., pressurizedfluid source.

Returning to previously mentioned pressure-reducing valve 123, suchvalve reduces or controls to a selected valve the pressure of thepressurized fluid supplied from fluid conduit 124 to end portions 57 and58 of passage 56 in valve housing 55 of valve 50. Valve 123 is alsoconnected over a conduit 149 to reservoir or tank T to provide forleakage fluid through the valve to flow to such tank. Similarly,pressure reducing valve 145 reduces or controls to a selected valve suchas, for example, a pressure of from 60 to 150 p.s.i., the pressure ofthe pressurized fluid supplied from conduit 124 to fluid conduit 146 andthence to accumulator 148 and through check valve 147 to fluid conduit131 and thence to valve 130. Valve 145 is also connected over a conduit150 to reservoir or tank T to provide for leakage fluid through thevalve to flow to such tank.

For purposes of an operational example of a forming cycle of thepress-forming apparatus, it will be assumed that such apparatus isinitially in its position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawingsand the control valves of the control system occupy their normalpositions illustrated in FIG. 6. It will also be assumed that contactsTDl, TD2 and TD3 are in their open positions shown in FIG. 6. Under suchconditions pressurized fluid is being supplied from the 500 p.s.i.pressurized fluid source over fluid conduit 124 and through valve 123 tofluid conduit 122, at a pressure controlled in accordance with themanual setting of adjustable valve 123, and thence through valve 121 toconduit 113 and to end portion 58 of passage 56 in housing 55 of valve50 (FIGS. 3 and 6). Such pressurized fluid is exerting force on gatingmember 59 in passage 56 to urge such gating member in the right-handdirection (viewing FIG. 3) in said passage but such movement of thegating member is prevented at such time by roller 52 bearing against theouter edge or face of cam 34. If, however, the press forming apparatusdrifts or creeps downwardly at such time, due to fluid leakage forexample, cam 34 will move downwardly and roller 52 will be moved offsaid edge or face of cam 34 to thereby permit gating member 59 to movesomewhat in said right-hand direction. Such movement will connect,through annular channel 61 in gating member 59, annular channel 63 inhousing 55 of valve 50 with annular channel 67 in such housing (FIG. 3)and pressurized fluid will flow from said 500 p.s.i. pressurized fluidsource (FIG. 6) over fluid conduit 103 and through passage 75 in valve50 to passage or conduit 107, and thence to the lower end of enlargedportion 150 of bore of cylinder 12 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to again actuatepiston 13 and piston rod 16 upwardly to its original position. Suchactuation will again cause cam 34 to contact roller 52 and move gatingmember 59 to its center position within passage 56 of housing 55 ofvalve 50 to thereby interrupt the connection between annular passages 63and 67 in housing 55 and discontinue the supply of pressurized fluid tosaid lower end of enlarged portion 150 of bore 15 of cylinder 12. Thus,the press-forming apparatus 11 is normally maintained in its upwardposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 between press-forming cycles of suchapparatus.

It will now be assumed that a gob of molten glass has been supplied tomold cavity 27a in mold 27 (FIG. 1) and that the previously mentionedtiming drum or programmer is energized to actuate contacts TDl TD2 andTD3 (FIG. 6) to their closed and subsequently to their open positions intheir programmed sequence. Under such conditions, contacts TD] and TDZfirst close simultaneously as previously mentioned and solenoid windings126 and 137 of valves 121 and 130, respectively, are thereby energizedand such valves are thus actuated to their second positions. Suchactuation of valve 121 permits pressurized fluid to flow from the 500p.s.i. pressurized fluid source through fluid conduit 124,pressure-reducing valve 123, fluid conduit 122, valve 121 in its secondposition, and thence to fluid conduit and through valve 115, still inits first position, to fluid conduit 112 and to the enlarged portion 57(FIGS. 3 and 6) ofpassage 56in housing 55 of valve 50. At the same timeenlarged portion 58 of said passage 56 is connected over conduits 113,valve 121 and conduit 1 19 to reservoir or tank T. The supply ofpressurized fluid to end portion 57 of passage 56 in valve housing 55actuates gating member 59 in the left-hand direction (viewing FIG. 3)within said passage 56 and annular channel 62 is thereby connected,through annular channel 60 in gating member 59, with annular channel 66within said passage to supply pressurized fluid from the 250l,000 p.s.i.pressurized fluid source through passage 74 in valve 50 to fluid conduitor passage 106 and thence to the upper end of enlarged bore portion 15cof bore 15 in cylinder 12 (FIG. 1). Piston 13 in said bore portion 150is thereby actuated downwardly and piston rod 16 is correspondinglyactuated downwardly to cause end 25b of pressforming plunger 25 to entermold cavity 27a in mold 27 and begin to press form the previouslymentioned gob of molten glass. During such down stroke of the pressingapparatus, the lower end of enlarged bore portion 150 of bore 15 incylinder 12 is connected through fluid conduit or passage 107 in valve50 (through passage 75 and annular channels 65 and 67 in valve housing55) to fluid conduit 104 and thence to reservoir or tank T.

The above-mentioned actuation of valve to its second position, permitspressurized fluid at the aforesaid pressure of from 60 to 150 p.s.i. forexample, to flow from accumulator 148 through check valve 147 and overfluid conduit 131 to valve 130 and, thence through such valve to fluidconduit 135 to the upper end of cylinder 18. Restriction 143 at suchtime restricts an appreciable flow of high-pressure pressurized fluid,from said 250-1,000 p.s.i. pressurized fluid source and through normallyopen manually actuated valve 133, to fluid conduit 131. The pressurizedfluid supplied from accumulator 148 to the upper end of cylinder 18 atsuch time flows at a rate such that the pressure above piston 19 is justhigh enough to prevent cavitation within the fluid so supplied to saidupper end. That is to say, if the rate of flow of pressurized fluid tothe upper end of cylinder 18 is not sufficiently high, the previouslymentioned downward movement of piston rod 16 of cylinder 12 may pullpiston rod 20 and piston 19 in cylinder 18 downwardly at a rate tendingto cause a partial vacuum in the pressurized fluid being supplied to theupper end of cylinder 18, as will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art. When ring mold 26 contacts mold 27, piston 19 in cylinder 18stops and high-volume pressurized-fluid flow to the upper end ofcylinder 18 is thereby terminated. At such time, the high-pressurepressurized fluid supplied through restriction 143 to fluid conduits 131and 135, and thence to the upper end of cylinder 18, will build up highpressure in such end of cylinder 18 and clamp ring mold 26 to mold 27.

When piston 13 and its associated piston rod 16 are actuated downwardlyduring the press-forming operation above described, cam 33 (as well ascam 34) is correspondingly actuated downwardly so that the outer face oredge of cam 33 finally contacts the outer periphery of roller 51 (FIGS.1, 3 and 6). Such face or edge has a shape selected, in conjunction withthe previously mentioned uniform taper of channel 61 in gating member59, in passage 56 in valve housing 55 so that roller 51 and,therethrough, said gating member are reactuated in their right-handdirections (viewing FIG. 3) to I gradually reduce the rate of flow ofthe pressurized fluid supplied to the upper end of enlarged portion 15cof bore 15 in cylinder 12 and, at the same time, substantially restrictthe rate of flow of fluid from the lower end of said portion of portion150 of bore 15, such reduction in and restriction of said rates of flowbeing at rates most suitable or optimum for the actual glass-pressingphase of the forming cycle, to thereby,

press form the desired glass article at a speed to form such articlewithout defects. At the end of said glass-forming phase, that is, whenthe cavity formed between the bottom of cavity 27a in mold 27, and lowerportion 25a of plunger 25 and ring mold 26 (FIG. 1) is filled with thegob of molten glass being press formed, contact TD3 of the timing drumcloses to energize solenoid winding 117 of valve 115 (FIG. 6) and suchvalve is actuated to its second position. Such actuation connects fluidconduit or passage 112 through valve 115 to reservoir or tank T therebypermitting the pressurized fluid in end portion 57 of passage 56 invalve housing 55 to flow to fluid reservoir or tank T. Gating member 59in passage 56 will, thereby, be shifted in the right-hand direction(viewing FIG. 3) by spring 86 of valve 50 to thereby close all the portsor channels in such valve. Any residual pressure in the upper end ofportion 150 of bore in cylinder is, at such time, vented throughrestriction 144 and valve 115 to fluid reservoir or tank T. Plunger and25b of plunger 25 now rests or dwells on the formed glass article with aforce equal only to the combined mass of such plunger, piston rod 16 andthe other parts associated with such plunger and piston rod. The ringmold clamping pressure supplied from said 250-1,000 p.s.i. pressurizedfluid source through manually actuated valve 133 in its open position tofluid conduit 131, and thence through valve 130 to fluid conduit 135 andto the upper end oicylinder 18, is still effective to clamp ring mold 26to mold 27. Such pressurized fluid is prevented from flowing toaccumulator 148 by check valve 147.

lt is believed expedient to point out at this point in the descriptionthat, when the article being press formed has a configuration such thatthe ring mold 26 has an area of its lower surface exposed to the moltenglass during the pressforming phase of a press forming cycle and whicharea is greater in area than that of end 25b of pressing plunger 25, theclamping pressure necessary to hold the ring mold against mold 27 atsuch time must be higher than the forming pressure applied to pressingplunger 25. Accordingly, under such conditions, manually actuated valve133 is closed and manually actuated valve 132 is open to supplypressurized fluid at a substantially higher pressure through restriction143 to fluid conduit 131, such higher pressure being provided from thepreviously mentioned 300-1 ,000 p.s.i. pressurized fluid source.

Following the above-mentioned dwell, during which the glass of thepress-formed glass article cools sufficiently to become self-supportingor set up, solenoid winding 126 of valve 121 is deenergized by theopening of contact TDI of the aforementioned timing drum or programmerand such valve is returned to its first position by spring 125 of suchvalve. Such actuation of valve 12] again supplies pressurized fluid toend 58 of passage 56 in valve housing 55 and gating member 59 in saidpassage 56 is actuated in its right-hand direction (viewing FIG. 3)within such passage. Such actuation ofgating member 59 supplies pressurefrom the 500 p.s.i. pressurized fluid source over fluid conduit 103 andthence through annular channels 63 and 67 in valve housing 55 of valve50 to passage 75 (FIG. 3) and fluid conduit 107 (FIG. 6) to the lowerend of enlarged portion 150 of bore 15 in cylinder 12 (FIG. 1).Simultaneously therewith, the upper end ofsaid enlarged bore portion 15cis connected through fluid passage or conduit 106 and valve 50 to fluidconduit 104 and thence to fluid reservoir or tank T. Piston 13 and itsassociated apparatus including plunger 25 are, thereby, actuated in anupward direction. At a point in time which may, for example, beapproximately 0.06 second following the deenergization of winding 126 ofvalve 121, winding 137 of valve 130 is deenergized by the opening ofcontact TD2 of the timing drum or programmer and valve 130 returns toits first position shown in FIG. 6. The 0.06 second delay period issufficient to permit end 25b of plunger 25 to be extracted from, orremoved from contact with the press-formed glass article in cavity 27aof mold 27 while clamping pressure is still maintained on ring mold 26to hold said glass article in its forming mold. Following such delayperiod flange portion 25a of plunger 25 (FIG. 1) contacts the heads ofaforementioned screws or studs such as 29 and ring mold 26 is, thereby,actuated upwardly along with piston 13 and its associated piston rod 16.Such actuation also actuates arms 21, piston rod 20 and piston 19 incylinder 18 upwardly and the pressurized fluid in the top of cylinder 18is forced into conduit 135, and through valve and conduit 134 to fluidreservoir or tank T. If such back flow of pressurized fluid is caused tooccur prior to actuation of valve 130 to its first position by thedeenergization of winding 137 of such valve and thereby cause possiblebreakage of fluid conduits and/or 131 etc., pressure release valve 140is actuated by such pressure backflow to relieve such pressure and ventthe excess pressure through fluid conduit 141 to fluid reservoir or tankT. Towards the end of the upward stroke of plunger 25 and its associatedapparatus the outer periphery of roller 52 is contacted by the outerface or edge of cam 34 and gating member 59 in passage 56 of valvehousing 55 is again actuated in its left-hand direction in such passageand thereby overriding the actuation of gating member 59 in itsright-hand direction by the pressurized fluid supplied to end 58 ofpassage 56in valve housing 55. Timing drum contact TD3 is now actuatedto its open position to permit valve 115 to be returned to its firstposition by spring 116. The apparatus is then back in its initial ororiginal positions in preparation for another press-forming cycle suchas that just described.

Although there is herein shown and described only one example ofacontrol system embodying the invention, it will be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit and purviewthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve (50) for controlling pressurized fluid flow, such valvecomprising;

1. an elongate cylindrical housing (55) embodying,

a. a first generally cylindrical passage (56) extending longitudinallythrough said housing (55) and having cylindrical end portions (57,58) ofa greater cross-sectional area than that of the generally centralportion of such passage (56) between said end portions 57,58) thereof,

b. a first pair of channels (62,63) in the housing wall defining theperiphery of said center portion of said first passage (56),

. first and second pressurized fluid inlet passages (68,69) extendingthrough said housing (55) and connecting with first and second onesrespectively of said first pair of channels (62,63),

d. a second pair of channels (64,65) in the housing wall defining theperiphery of said center portion of said first passage (56),

e. first and second pressurized fluid outlet passages (72,73) extendingthrough said housing (55) and connecting with first and second onesrespectively of said second pair of channels (64,65),

f. a third pair of channels (66,67) in the housing wall defining theperiphery of said center portion of said first passage (56), g. thirdand fourth pressurized fluid outlet passages (74,75) extending throughsaid housing (55) for connecting with first and second ones respectivelyof said third pair of channeis (66,67), and

h. third and fourth pressurized fluid inlet passages (70,71) extendingthrough said housing (55) and connecting with first and second onesrespectively of said end portions 57,58) of said first passage (56);

II. a cylindrical rodlike member (59) disposed in said first passage(56) in said housing (55), such member being of a greater length thansuch passage (56) and having,

a. a center portion substantially and generally corresponding incross-sectional area and in configuration to said generally centralportion of said first passage (56) in said housing (55) so as to fitsnugly but longitudinally slidably therein,

b. first and second end portion (5911,59b) of a lesser cross-sectionalarea than said center portion of said member and extending through saidend portions (57,58) of said first passage (56) in said housing (55),

a. a center portion substantially and generally corresponding incross-sectional area and configuration to said generally central portionof said first passage in said housing so as to fit snugly butlongitud'mally and slidably therein,

c. first and second annular channels (60,61) mb di d i b. first andsecond end portions of a lesser cross-sectional the peripheral wall ofaid nt portion f id area than said center portion of said member andexmember (59) and normally connecting said third and tending throughSaid gnd Portion8 of said first Passage fourth fluid outlet passages(74,75) in said housing with in Said housing and said first and secondones respectively of said third pair 10 first and Second annularchannels embodied in f h l (66 peripheral wall of said center portion ofsaid member lll. first and second sleeves (80,85) having flanged endsand with the inner d of such channels spaced from each disposed in firstand second ones respectively of said end other a Selected dlstance alongthe length of [he came portions (57,58) of said first passage (56) insaid housing I 5 m 93"? ?f b d (55) and surrounding said first andsecond end portions Cy dnca ousmg a so 0 5911,5917 respectively of saidrodlik member 59 in a first annular chimnels f defin' relatively snugbut slidable relationship therewith, each mg the .penPhery 9 centerporno of saldflist said sleeve having a length less than its respectiveend passage m Sald housmg with the annular outermost Imus of first andsecond ones of such channels normally situate porno (5758) of Sam firstPassage (56,) and T flanged in such first passage adjacent said innerends of said first 9 ofeach S,uch sleeve bemg disposed mnermost andsecond annular channels respectively in said gating in its respectiveend portion (57,58) of such first passage member,

(56) b. first and second pressurized fluid inlet passages extend- IV. acompressible coil spring (81 86) SurrOund1Il g each ing through saidhousing and connecting with said first aid sle ve (80, 85), each suchspring (81,86) h g one and second ones respectively of said first pairof chanof ltsends bearing against said flange of the respectively 615 insuch housing,

assoclated Sleeve (80,85) c. a second pair of annular channels in thehousing wall V. a cap member (82,87) secured to each end of said housdfi ing the periphery of said center portion of said g (55) for SealedClosure Ofsaid end Portions 5 of first passage in said housing with theannular innermost Said first Passage 636}! Such member beaflimits offirst and second ones of such channels noring against the second end ofthe respectively associated all situate in such first passage adjacentthe outer Said coil p g and at least ne ofsuch cap memends of said firstand second annular channels respecbers (82) embodying an orifice (82a)extending tively in said gating member,

therethrough in line with said first passage (56) and d. first andsecond pressurized fluid outlet passages exthrough which orifice (820)the corresponding end portending through said housing and connectingwith said tion (59a) of said rodlike member (59) extends snugly firstand second ones respectively of said second pair of but slidably withthe free end of such end'portion (59a) h nn in Such h i g,

protruding externally beyond the exterior annular surface a hi p r of nnl r ch nn l n the ing all of the respective cap member(82), 40 definingthe periphery of said center portion of said Vl. actuating means (90)connected to said protruding exfirst passage in said housing with theannular centers of ternal and otherwise free end of said end portion(59a) of first and Second Ones of Such channels normally annusaidrodlike member (59) for longitudinal movement of y Surrounding Centerareas of said first and second such member (90) in first and seconddirections within anflular channels respectively in sfiid gating member,said fi t passage (56) embodied in Said housing (55), f. third andfourth pressurized fluid outlet passages exsuch means 90) beingadjustably connected to said free tendmg through 531d g r Connectingwith said end of the rodlike member 59 for limited manual adfirst and(fwd justment of the normal longitudinal position of such channels Suchg' and member (59) within the first passage (56) in said housing andfourth pressimzed fluld lnlet.passa.ges extend- (55), and ing throughsaid housing and connecting w th first and VI]. stop means (91) carriedby said actuating means (90) second ones. respectively of Sam endPortlons of sald for limiting the distances of said actuating movementsof first passage lV. first and second flanged sleeves disposed in firstand such actuating means (90) and thereby said longitudinal f d f fmovements of said rodlike member (59) within said first Second Opesrfispecmtely o Sal an p0}- lonsp Sal passage in said housing andsurrounding said first and passage (56) in said housing (55), such stopmeans (91) being manually adjustable for varying or adjusting saidmovements.

2. A valve as in claim 1 and in which said peripheral wall of second endportions respectively of said rodlike member in a relatively snug butslidably relationship therewith, each said sleeve having a length lessthan its respective end portion of said first passage and the flangedend of said center portion of said rodlike member (59) uniformly 60tapers to define the annular inner limit of one of said annular channels(60,61) embodied in such wall, such taper being in a direction from theoutermost end of the respective annular channel (60,61 towards thecenter of such channel.

3. A valve for controlling pressurized fluid flow, such valvecomprising;

each such sleeve being disposed innermost in its respective end portionof such first passage;

V. a compressible coil spring surrounding each said sleeve each suchspring having one of its ends bearing against said flange of therespectively associated sleeve;

Vl. a cap member secured to each end of said housing for sealed closureof said end portions of said first passage,

1. an elongate cylindrical housing embodying a first generallycylindrical passage extending longitudinally through said housing andhaving cylindrical end portions of a greater cross-sectional area thanthat of the generally central portion of such passage between said endportions thereof;

ll. a cylindrical rodlike gating member disposed in said first passagein said housing, such member being of a greater length than such passageand having,

each such member bearing against the second end of the respectivelyassociated said coil spring and at least one of such cap membersembodying an orifice extending therethrough in line with said firstpassage and through which orifice the corresponding end portion of saidrodlike gating member snugly but slidably extends with the free end ofsuch end portion protruding externally beyond the exterior annularsurface of the respective cap member;

VII. actuating means connected to said protruding external and otherwisefree end of said end portion of said rodlike gating member forlongitudinally moving such member in a first direction to connect saidfirst annular channel in said gating member between said first ones ofsaid first and third pairs of annular channels in said housing, and saidsecond annular channel in said gating member between said second ones ofsaid second and third pairs of annular channels in said housing, and forlongitudinally moving said gating member in a second direction toconnect said second annular channel in said gating member between saidsecond ones of said first and third pairs of annular channels in saidhousing, and said first annular channel in said gating member betweensaid first ones of said second and third pairs of annular channels insaid housing; and

VIII. stop means carried by said actuating means for limiting thedistances of said actuating movements of such actuating means andthereby said longitudinal movements of said rodlike gating member withinsaid first passage in said housing, such stop means being manuallyadjustable for varying or adjusting said movements.

4. A valve as in claim 3 and in which said peripheral wall of saidcenter portion of said rodlike member uniformly tapers to define theannular inner limit of one of said annular channels embodied in suchwall, such taper being in a direction from the outermost end of therespective annular channel towards the center ofsuch channel.

5. In an apparatus (11) for press forming an article from a mold chargeof molten glass and including a female mold member (27), a male moldmember (25) actuated by a hollow piston rod (16) and an associatedpressurized fluid cylinder (12) and first piston (13), and a ring mold(26) arranged to be actuated by a piston rod and an associatedpressurized fluid cylinder (18) and second piston (19), the piston rod(20) actuating said ring mold (26) extending downwardly through saidhollow piston rod (16) to apply clamping force to said ring mold (26)independent of the pressing forces exerted by said male mold membercontrol apparatus for controlling said pressing forces in accordancewith the forming characteristics of said molten glass, such controlapparatus comprising, in combination;

I. a pressurized fluid and mechanically actuated main control valve (50)for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to upper and lower faces ofsaid first piston (13), the mechanical actuating means (90) of suchcontrol valve (50) arranged for overriding the pressurized fluidactuating means (59) of the control valve (50);

II. first and second cam means (33,34) associated with said hollowpiston rod (16) and moved downwardly and upwardly therewith foractuating said mechanical actuating means (90) ofsaid control valve (50)towards the ends of the downward and upward strokes, respectively, ofthe hollow piston rod (16), said first cam (33) means having a shapeselected so as to actuate said mechanical actuating means (90) toactuate said control valve (50) to gradually reduce the supply ofpressurized fluid to the upper face of said first piston (13), andregulating return flow in accordance with said forming characteristicsof said molten glass and to finally terminate said supply, and

said second cam means (34) having a shape selected to actuate saidmechanical actuating means to actuate said control valve (50) togradually reduce the supply of pressurized fluid to the lower face ofsaid piston (13) and finally terminate such supply;

III. a first two-position four-way solenoid actuated valve (121)normally in a first position to normally supply pressurized fluid to afirst end of said main control valve (50) to urge control of such mainvalve (50) to supply pressurized fluid to the lower face of said firstpiston (13) and actuable to a second position by energization of thesolenoid winding (126) of such valve (121) to supply pressun'zed fluidto a second end of said main control valve (50) to control such mainvalve (50) to supply pressurized fluid to the upper face of said firstiston (13); IV. a second two-position two-way solenol actuated valve(130) normally in a first position to normally vent the upper end of thesecond-mentioned pressurized fluid cylinder (18) to a fluid tank (T) andactuable to a second position by energization of the solenoid winding(137) of such valve to supply low-pressure pressurized fluid at ahigh-volume rate and high-pressure pressurized fluid at a low-volumerate to said upper end of said second mentioned cylinder (18); and V.electrical circuit controlling means (TDl, TD2) for simultaneouslyenergizing the solenoid windings (126,137) of said first and secondsolenoid-actuated valves (121,130) at the start of each forming cycle ofthe press-forming apparatus and for deenergizing said windings (126,137)at the end of the dwell phase of each forming cycle, the deenergizationof the solenoid winding (126) of said first solenoid actuated valve(121) occurring at a point in time briefly prior to the deenergizationof the solenoid winding (137) of said second solenoid actuated valve(130) whereby clamping force is maintained on said ring mold (26) untilsaid male mold member (25) has been removed from contact with the formedglass article in said female mold member (27) by pressurized fluid. Acontrol system as in claim 5 and further including,

a third two-position solenoid-actuated valve normally in a firstposition to normally vent said second pressurized fluid actuating meansof said main control valve through said first solenoid-actuated valve tosaid fluid tank, and

b. another electrical circuit controlling means for energizing thesolenoid winding of said third solenoid-actuated valve at the end of theforming phase of each forming cycle to actuate such third valve to itssecond position to vent the pressurized fluid supplied to the upper faceof said first piston and said second pressurized fluid actuating meansof said main control valve to said fluid tank, such other electricalcircuit controlling means deenergizing the solenoid winding of saidthird solenoid-actuated valve at the end ofeach forming cycle.

7. A control system as in claim 5 and in which said first and second cammeans are vertically manually adjustable to vary the press-formingstrokes ofsaid male mold member.

8. A control system as in claim 6 and in which said first and second cammeans are vertically manually adjustable to vary the press-formingstrokes of said male mold member.

1. A valve (50) for controlling pressurized fluid flow, such valvecomprising; I. an elongate cylindrical housing (55) embodying, a. afirst generally cylindrical passage (56) extending longitudinallythrough said housing (55) and having cylindrical end portions (57,58) ofa greater cross-sectional area than that of the generally centralportion of such passage (56) between said end portions (57,58) thereof,b. a first pair of channels (62,63) in the housing wall defining theperiphery of said center portion of said first passage (56), c. firstand second pressurized fluid inlet passages (68,69) extending throughsaid housing (55) and connecting with first and second ones respectivelyof said first pair of channels (62,63), d. a second pair of channels(64,65) in the housing wall defining the periphery of said centerportion of said first passage (56), e. first and second pressurizedfluid outlet passages (72,73) extending through said housing (55) andconnecting with first and second ones respectively of said second pairof channels (64,65), f. a third pair of channels (66,67) in the housingwall defining the periphery of said center portion of said first passage(56), g. third and fourth pressurized fluid outlet passages (74,75)extending through said housing (55) for connecting with first and secondones respectively of said third pair of channels (66,67), and h. thirdand fourth pressurized fluid inlet passages (70,71) extending throughsaid housing (55) and connecting with first and second ones respectivelyof said end portions (57,58) of said first pasSage (56); II. acylindrical rodlike member (59) disposed in said first passage (56) insaid housing (55), such member being of a greater length than suchpassage (56) and having, a. a center portion substantially and generallycorresponding in cross-sectional area and in configuration to saidgenerally central portion of said first passage (56) in said housing(55) so as to fit snugly but longitudinally slidably therein, b. firstand second end portion (59a,59b) of a lesser crosssectional area thansaid center portion of said member and extending through said endportions (57,58) of said first passage (56) in said housing (55), and c.first and second annular channels (60,61) embodied in the peripheralwall of said center portion of said member (59) and normally connectingsaid third and fourth fluid outlet passages (74,75) in said housing withsaid first and second ones respectively of said third pair of channels(66, 67); III. first and second sleeves (80,85) having flanged ends anddisposed in first and second ones respectively of said end portions(57,58) of said first passage (56) in said housing (55) and surroundingsaid first and second end portions (59a, 59b) respectively of saidrodlike member (59) in a relatively snug but slidable relationshiptherewith, each said sleeve having a length less than its respective endportion (57,58) of said first passage (56) and the flanged end of eachsuch sleeve (80,85) being disposed innermost in its respective endportion (57,58) of such first passage (56), IV. a compressible coilspring (81,86) surrounding each said sleeve (80,85), each such spring(81,86) having one of its ends bearing against said flange of therespectively associated sleeve (80,85), V. a cap member (82,87) securedto each end of said housing (55) for sealed closure of said end portions(57,58) of said first passage (56), each such member (82,87) bearingagainst the second end of the respectively associated said coil spring(81,86) and at least one of such cap members (82) embodying an orifice(82a) extending therethrough in line with said first passage (56) andthrough which orifice (82a) the corresponding end portion (59a) of saidrodlike member (59) extends snugly but slidably with the free end ofsuch end portion (59a) protruding externally beyond the exterior annularsurface of the respective cap member (82), VI. actuating means (90)connected to said protruding external and otherwise free end of said endportion (59a) of said rodlike member (59) for longitudinal movement ofsuch member (90) in first and second directions within said firstpassage (56) embodied in said housing (55), such means (90) beingadjustably connected to said free end of the rodlike member (59) forlimited manual adjustment of the normal longitudinal position of suchmember (59) within the first passage (56) in said housing (55), and VII.stop means (91) carried by said actuating means (90) for limiting thedistances of said actuating movements of such actuating means (90) andthereby said longitudinal movements of said rodlike member (59) withinsaid first passage (56) in said housing (55), such stop means (91) beingmanually adjustable for varying or adjusting said movements.
 2. A valveas in claim 1 and in which said peripheral wall of said center portionof said rodlike member (59) uniformly tapers to define the annular innerlimit of one of said annular channels (60,61) embodied in such wall,such taper being in a direction from the outermost end of the respectiveannular channel (60,61) towards the center of such channel.
 3. A valvefor controlling pressurized fluid flow, such valve comprising; I. anelongate cylindrical housing embodying a first generally cylindricalpassage extending longitudinally through said housing and havingcylindrical end portions of a greater cross-sectional area than that ofthe generally central portion of such passaGe between said end portionsthereof; II. a cylindrical rodlike gating member disposed in said firstpassage in said housing, such member being of a greater length than suchpassage and having, a. a center portion substantially and generallycorresponding in cross-sectional area and configuration to saidgenerally central portion of said first passage in said housing so as tofit snugly but longitudinally slidably therein, b. first and second endportions of a lesser cross-sectional area than said center portion ofsaid member and extending through said end portions of said firstpassage in said housing, and c. first and second annular channelsembodied in the peripheral wall of said center portion of said memberwith the inner ends of such channels spaced from each other a selecteddistance along the length of the center portion of such member; III.said cylindrical housing also embodying, a. a first pair of annularchannels in the housing wall defining the periphery of said centerportion of said first passage in said housing with the annular outermostlimits of first and second ones of such channels normally situate insuch first passage adjacent said inner ends of said first and secondannular channels respectively in said gating member, b. first and secondpressurized fluid inlet passages extending through said housing andconnecting with said first and second ones respectively of said firstpair of channels in such housing, c. a second pair of annular channelsin the housing wall defining the periphery of said center portion ofsaid first passage in said housing with the annular innermost limits offirst and second ones of such channels normally situate in such firstpassage adjacent the outer ends of said first and second annularchannels respectively in said gating member, d. first and secondpressurized fluid outlet passages extending through said housing andconnecting with said first and second ones respectively of said secondpair of channels in such housing, e. a third pair of annular channels inthe housing wall defining the periphery of said center portion of saidfirst passage in said housing with the annular centers of first andsecond ones of such channels normally annularly surrounding center areasof said first and second annular channels respectively in said gatingmember, f. third and fourth pressurized fluid outlet passages extendingthrough said housing for connecting with said first and second onesrespectively of said third pair of channels in such housing, and g.third and fourth pressurized fluid inlet passages extending through saidhousing and connecting with first and second ones respectively of saidend portions of said first passage; IV. first and second flanged sleevesdisposed in first and second ones respectively of said end portions ofsaid first passage in said housing and surrounding said first and secondend portions respectively of said rodlike member in a relatively snugbut slidably relationship therewith, each said sleeve having a lengthless than its respective end portion of said first passage and theflanged end of each such sleeve being disposed innermost in itsrespective end portion of such first passage; V. a compressible coilspring surrounding each said sleeve each such spring having one of itsends bearing against said flange of the respectively associated sleeve;VI. a cap member secured to each end of said housing for sealed closureof said end portions of said first passage, each such member bearingagainst the second end of the respectively associated said coil springand at least one of such cap members embodying an orifice extendingtherethrough in line with said first passage and through which orificethe corresponding end portion of said rodlike gating member snugly butslidably extends with the free end of such end portion protrudingexternally beyond the exterior annular surface of the respective capmember; VII. actuating means connected to said protruding external andotherwise free end of said end portion of said rodlike gating member forlongitudinally moving such member in a first direction to connect saidfirst annular channel in said gating member between said first ones ofsaid first and third pairs of annular channels in said housing, and saidsecond annular channel in said gating member between said second ones ofsaid second and third pairs of annular channels in said housing, and forlongitudinally moving said gating member in a second direction toconnect said second annular channel in said gating member between saidsecond ones of said first and third pairs of annular channels in saidhousing, and said first annular channel in said gating member betweensaid first ones of said second and third pairs of annular channels insaid housing; and VIII. stop means carried by said actuating means forlimiting the distances of said actuating movements of such actuatingmeans and thereby said longitudinal movements of said rodlike gatingmember within said first passage in said housing, such stop means beingmanually adjustable for varying or adjusting said movements.
 4. A valveas in claim 3 and in which said peripheral wall of said center portionof said rodlike member uniformly tapers to define the annular innerlimit of one of said annular channels embodied in such wall, such taperbeing in a direction from the outermost end of the respective annularchannel towards the center of such channel.
 5. In an apparatus (11) forpress forming an article from a mold charge of molten glass andincluding a female mold member (27), a male mold member (25) actuated bya hollow piston rod (16) and an associated pressurized fluid cylinder(12) and first piston (13), and a ring mold (26) arranged to be actuatedby a piston rod (20) and an associated pressurized fluid cylinder (18)and second piston (19), the piston rod (20) actuating said ring mold(26) extending downwardly through said hollow piston rod (16) to applyclamping force to said ring mold (26) independent of the pressing forcesexerted by said male mold member (25), control apparatus for controllingsaid pressing forces in accordance with the forming characteristics ofsaid molten glass, such control apparatus comprising, in combination; I.a pressurized fluid and mechanically actuated main control valve (50)for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to upper and lower faces ofsaid first piston (13), the mechanical actuating means (90) of suchcontrol valve (50) arranged for overriding the pressurized fluidactuating means (59) of the control valve (50); II. first and second cammeans (33,34) associated with said hollow piston rod (16) and moveddownwardly and upwardly therewith for actuating said mechanicalactuating means (90) of said control valve (50) towards the ends of thedownward and upward strokes, respectively, of the hollow piston rod(16), said first cam (33) means having a shape selected so as to actuatesaid mechanical actuating means (90) to actuate said control valve (50)to gradually reduce the supply of pressurized fluid to the upper face ofsaid first piston (13), and regulating return flow in accordance withsaid forming characteristics of said molten glass and to finallyterminate said supply, and said second cam means (34) having a shapeselected to actuate said mechanical actuating means (90) to actuate saidcontrol valve (50) to gradually reduce the supply of pressurized fluidto the lower face of said piston (13) and finally terminate such supply;III. a first two-position four-way solenoid actuated valve (121)normally in a first position to normally supply pressurized fluid to afirst end of said main control valve (50) to urge control of such mainvalve (50) to supply pressurized fluid to the lower face of said firstpiston (13) and actuable to a second position by energization of thesolenoid winding (126) of such valve (121) to supply pressurized fluidto a second end of said maiN control valve (50) to control such mainvalve (50) to supply pressurized fluid to the upper face of said firstpiston (13); IV. a second two-position two-way solenoid actuated valve(130) normally in a first position to normally vent the upper end of thesecond-mentioned pressurized fluid cylinder (18) to a fluid tank (T) andactuable to a second position by energization of the solenoid winding(137) of such valve to supply low-pressure pressurized fluid at ahigh-volume rate and high-pressure pressurized fluid at a low-volumerate to said upper end of said second mentioned cylinder (18); and V.electrical circuit controlling means (TD1, TD2) for simultaneouslyenergizing the solenoid windings (126,137) of said first and secondsolenoid-actuated valves (121,130) at the start of each forming cycle ofthe press-forming apparatus and for deenergizing said windings (126,137)at the end of the dwell phase of each forming cycle, the deenergizationof the solenoid winding (126) of said first solenoid actuated valve(121) occurring at a point in time briefly prior to the deenergizationof the solenoid winding (137) of said second solenoid actuated valve(130) whereby clamping force is maintained on said ring mold (26) untilsaid male mold member (25) has been removed from contact with the formedglass article in said female mold member (27) by pressurized fluid.
 6. Acontrol system as in claim 5 and further including, a. a thirdtwo-position solenoid-actuated valve normally in a first position tonormally vent said second pressurized fluid actuating means of said maincontrol valve through said first solenoid-actuated valve to said fluidtank, and b. another electrical circuit controlling means for energizingthe solenoid winding of said third solenoid-actuated valve at the end ofthe forming phase of each forming cycle to actuate such third valve toits second position to vent the pressurized fluid supplied to the upperface of said first piston and said second pressurized fluid actuatingmeans of said main control valve to said fluid tank, such otherelectrical circuit controlling means deenergizing the solenoid windingof said third solenoid-actuated valve at the end of each forming cycle.7. A control system as in claim 5 and in which said first and second cammeans are vertically manually adjustable to vary the press-formingstrokes of said male mold member.
 8. A control system as in claim 6 andin which said first and second cam means are vertically manuallyadjustable to vary the press-forming strokes of said male mold member.